Practice Hours
Monday: 8.00am - 6.00pm
Tuesday: 8.00am - 8.00pm
Wednesday: 9.00am - 5.30pm
Thursday: 8.00am - 5.30pm
Friday: 9.00am - 4.00pm
Saturdays by appointment only.
Spooky season is well and truly here and with Halloween comes fun parties, trick or treating and family days out picking pumpkins. However, Halloween may potentially wreak havoc with your dental health and can cause some dental concerns to be more prominent. At Dental Solutions, we’re here to take the fright out of Halloween and help you to look after your teeth with some handy oral health care tips for you and your family.
If there is one thing that kids love at Halloween, it’s trick or treating! After all, enjoying sweets and chocolate is a huge part of Halloween, so the best way to avoid your children eating too many sweets at once and risk damaging their oral health care is for them to enjoy them in moderation.
Once you get back from trick or treating, sit down with them to go through the goodies they’ve collected during the evening. Then, let them choose a few pieces of sweets to enjoy that evening and then put the rest out of sight, allowing them to dip back in as and when you feel is the right time.
Teaching your children the importance of proper oral health care means that you can help them avoid developing cavities and tooth complaints as they get older, so be sure that after any sweet treats, they are brushing their teeth. Try not to say that sweets are “bad”, but instead, that in order to look after their teeth properly, they shouldn’t be eaten all the time.
When you head out on family days out, you might realise that due to the colder weather, your teeth are more sensitive. If this is the case, it’s important to take notice of any teeth sensitivity and take steps towards prevention. In order to treat tooth sensitivity, you need to know what the trigger is behind it, whether it be cold weather, hot drinks or certain foods. Then, once you’ve found the cause, you can take proper steps towards the solution and right treatment.
When you have tooth sensitivity, this is often because some of your enamel has worn away, exposing the delicate inner dental tissue. When this is irritated, it can cause pain and discomfort. Often, tooth sensitivity can be resolved at home with proper oral health care using a specialist toothpaste and mouthwash, however, in some extreme cases, you might need to come in and see us for a full check-up so that we can establish the cause of the issue and recommend the right treatment.
Apple bobbing is a fun and traditional party game at Halloween, but if you have braces or dental implants, it’s probably a good idea to skip! The force used to take part in apple bobbing can cause some people to potentially experience chipped teeth, snapped brace wires or damaged dental implants, which can not only be damaging for your smile but could be costly in terms of repairs!
The same oral health care advice applies to treats such as chewy toffee, hard sweets, toffee apples and crunchy caramels, as these can also cause damage to your teeth and delay any current dental treatment you’re undergoing.
If, after your Halloween celebrations, you notice any changes in your oral health, or simply would like to arrange your next oral health care checkup, contact Dental Solutions today! We’re a family-friendly private dental practice in the heart of Warrington, welcoming new patients for a range of dental treatments, regular checkups and more specialist procedures.
If you’re struggling with your overall dental health or tooth decay, then your dentist might recommend increasing the use of fluoride. Treating your teeth with fluoride is a very important part of your overall oral care regime. Children, especially, struggle with tooth decay and currently, tooth decay is the biggest cause of hospitalisation for children aged 5-9 years old. With the UK government recently announcing that fluoride is to be added to drinking water, many people are now wondering what is fluoride and what does fluoride do?
Last week, the government announced that fluoride is likely to be added to drinking water in the future across the UK after medical officers concluded that the mineral can help reduce the risk of tooth decay, particularly in children. Public Health England found that by adding fluoride to water, this could help reduce cavities in children by up to 28%.
Naturally, fluoride is already found in drinking water in very small amounts, however not enough to provide any protection against tooth decay. PHE (Public Health England) found strong evidence that water fluoridation would drastically reduce the prevalence of tooth decay and help to improve dental health across the UK. Surprisingly, tooth decay is the biggest cause of hospitalisation for children aged from 5-9 years old in the UK, with around 23% of five-year-olds experiencing some form of damage to their teeth. But, what is fluoride and why is it so important?
A lot of our patients wonder “what is fluoride?. Fluoride is commonly used in dental care in order to strengthen the enamel, or the outer layer of your teeth. Naturally, fluoride is found in soil and food, with very small traces also found in water. Typically, it is produced synthetically for use in dental products, such as toothpaste and mouthwash. It can also be added in small amounts to public water supplies (also known as water fluoridation) where it can help to reduce the prevalence of tooth decay in local populations.
It was discovered that fluoride is effective in fighting tooth decay in the 1930s, where researchers found that children who drank fluoridated water whilst growing up had fewer cases of tooth decay than those who drank non-fluoridated water. Since then, studies have shown that when fluoride is added to the water supply, tooth decay cases decrease.
Fluoride helps promote better oral health in a few different ways. If we consume fluoride through drinking water, then the fluoride then enters the bloodstream and becomes part of developing permanent teeth, especially in children. When using dental products that contain fluoride, daily use means that over time, fluoride forms part of your saliva and helps to strengthen teeth from the outside, so that your tooth enamel gets stronger.
Fluoride works as part of the demineralisation and remineralisation process which naturally occurs in the mouth. The demineralisation process starts with the bacteria found in the plaque on your teeth. This bacteria feeds on sugar and then produces acidic saliva which then weakens tooth enamel. Fluoride helps to control and protect against damage caused by the demineralisation process and works to remineralise your tooth enamel, preventing cavities and in some cases, it can reverse early signs of tooth decay.
When you use products containing fluoride, such as toothpaste, then the fluoride ends up in your saliva. When your teeth are then coated in saliva that contains fluoride, your enamel ends up absorbing traces of fluoride. Then, the fluoride bonds with phosphate and calcium which naturally exists in your enamel to create fluorapatite, a strong material that helps to fight decay and prevent cavities.
We can all benefit from additional fluoride intake, as it offers better dental protection. However, there are people who would benefit more:
Here at Dental Solutions, we can look at your current dental health during your next checkup and provide advice on how to better protect your oral health using fluoride. To arrange a general dental checkup, contact us today!
When it comes to arranging a hygienist visit, many people aren’t too sure about how often they should schedule an appointment. What many people don’t realise is that the amount of time between appointments is completely unique and specific to each patient and treatment plan.
When you visit us for a dental appointment, your dentist will refer you to the hygienist who will then assess your individual needs and what kind of treatment is required. Some factors will affect the frequency of your hygienist visit, but generally speaking, let’s look at how often you should arrange a hygienist visit.
When you arrange a hygienist visit, there is often a set procedure that your hygienist will follow during your appointment. First, your hygienist will carry out a thorough examination of your mouth and look for any potential problems, such as gum inflammation and bleeding, swelling or gum recession, as well as any changes to your tongue or general mouth.
During your hygienist visit, your brushing and flossing technique will also be evaluated. Once the problem areas have been identified, your dental hygienist will carry out a deep clean to remove plaque and tartar build-up and, after the cleaning process, the hygienist will give you some tips on how to improve your flossing and brushing technique.
Healthy gums will have a pink appearance, are firm to touch and with little to no bleeding. If you follow a good oral health routine, with a good and regular brushing technique and daily flossing, you will likely need fewer visits to the hygienist. If, however, you have dental problems, your gums will likely be sore to touch, red or light pink and will bleed quite heavily when brushing or flossing. If you have any problems such as these, you can discuss them during your hygienist visit and our hygienist can take a closer look.
As well as this, a healthy tongue and mouth are important too. Your mouth should be free from sores and should be a nice healthy pink colour, as should your tongue. If you notice any changes to your mouth, gums or tongue, arrange a dentist appointment with us today, where we can carry out a full check of your mouth.
Although it is advisable to have a hygienist visit once every 6-12 months, there are some factors that can affect how frequently you will need to visit a dental hygienist. If you have good dental health, with no history of gum disease, then it is very likely that you will only need to visit us once or twice a year. But, if you have regular dental treatment for issues such as fillings, have had previous tooth loss or have a history of gum disease, then hygienist visits may be more frequent, around once every three to four months.
For more information on our dental hygienist treatments, or to arrange your consultation, please contact Dental Solutions today!
September is almost here and that means one thing: back to school! After six weeks off, both you and your children are likely looking forward to getting back into some kind of routine. If you’re spending the last few weeks preparing school uniforms, getting any last bits of homework finished and slowly, but surely, getting used to early mornings again, why not use this time to also take a closer look at your children’s oral health?
Now is the perfect time to arrange a dentist checkup for your child if they haven’t had one in a while and, depending on their age, now is the ideal time to start taking a closer look at your children’s oral health. Whether they are young children who are starting to lose their baby teeth, or teenagers looking to start their teeth straightening journey, at Dental Solutions, we’re here to help and can get you in for an appointment in no time. To start with, here are 5 tips for looking after your children’s oral health.
Looking after your children’s oral health should be a focus from when they are a baby and start to develop their first set of teeth. From the age of 1 or 2, you should start using a soft toothbrush and brushing with water to get them used to the feeling and sensation. As your children get older, they should continue brushing their teeth twice a day using toothpaste, both before bed so that they’re getting rid of plaque that has accumulated throughout the day and one other time, usually first thing in the morning.
Cavities are holes that form in your teeth and occur when germs and bacteria build up in certain areas around your mouth. Cavities are a popular occurrence in children as their teeth can be harder to brush, leading to problem areas developing. As part of your children’s oral health routine, you should encourage them to brush for two minutes, twice a day. To do this, you could play 2 minutes of their favourite song, or do it together for the same length of time.
Your child may be at risk of developing cavities if they:
If you suspect that your child is at risk of developing cavities or already has cavities, then please contact us as soon as possible so that we can arrange a check-up.
Children naturally have a sweet tooth, so discouraging them from consuming too much sugar is important not just for your children’s oral health, but their overall health too. Saliva takes around 30 minutes to neutralise acid caused by consuming sugar, which means that during this time, sugar is eating away at the enamel. If you allow your child to eat sugary snacks throughout the day, their mouth will regularly be acidic, which then increases the risk of cavities and tooth decay.
If your teenager has braces fitted, then encouraging them to keep them clean is vital to both their oral health and brace treatment. With fixed metal braces, it’s important not to brush teeth too vigorously in order to avoid damaging the metal bracket. Using other dental products, such as floss and mouthwash, can help freshen breath, too. Eating with fixed braces can cause debris and bits of food to get trapped in the brackets and wiring, so using interdental brushes can get to hard to reach areas, keeping braces clean.
Regular dentist trips should form part of your children’s oral health routine from a very early age. Their first visit to see a dentist should ideally be around their first birthday, and then at least once every 12 months. Regular checkups are important to regularly check for decay, cavities and other dental problems, as well as teaching proper dental care.
By making regular visits to the dentist, we are then able to catch and treat any dental issues quickly and easily and this helps to alleviate the development of any fears or worries about going to the dentist. If you would like to arrange a dental check-up for your children or would like to discuss any dental concerns, contact our friendly team today!
Your smile is one of the first things that people notice about you, so it makes sense that you want it to be attractive! In terms of cosmetic dental procedures, veneers are amongst the most popular treatment choices when it comes to smile makeovers, however, we’re all aware of the horror stories that have been associated with getting veneers fitted.
After a range of celebrity stories hit the news in recent years showing before and after photos of veneer treatments, this has led to an increase in patients wondering: do veneers damage your teeth? Here, we take a further look into dental veneers and whether or not veneers damage your teeth in the long term.
Veneers are used to correct more prominent and problematic tooth imperfections, such as chipped, misshapen or crooked teeth. Using a thin porcelain or composite resin, coverings, or veneers, are attached to the surface of a natural tooth using dental cement. As some small adjustments are made to your natural teeth in order to fit the veneers, this is a permanent change. As veneers are permanent, it’s vital that as a dental patient, you get all the relevant information before going ahead with the treatment.
Veneers can greatly improve the colour, shape and appearance of your teeth. By using the right shade and with proper cosmetic dental treatment, veneers can be made to match the shade of your teeth as they are naturally and shaped so that they are not hugely obvious, or if you want to show off your new smile, they can be crafted to give you a brighter, straighter appearance.
Veneers can be used to make your teeth look whole again, which is why they are such a popular treatment. As veneers are attached to the front surface of your teeth, your teeth don’t need to be re-aligned or re-positioned. Veneers can hide a range of minor imperfections, however, veneers can’t always replace orthodontic treatment or other dental procedures, so it’s best to consult with us prior to deciding on veneer treatment.
In order to prepare your teeth for porcelain veneers, some very small adjustments are made to your natural teeth. This is to ensure that the porcelain material we use properly adheres to the surface of the tooth. In preparation for your veneers, we will remove around half a millimetre of enamel from each tooth that veneers are going to be fitted to.
This process allows us to make room for the veneer so that your teeth are not any larger than usual. Before we remove the enamel, we may apply some anaesthetic to numb the area, so that the treatment is pain-free. It’s important to remember that the amount of enamel that we remove is the same thickness as the veneer which is set to be fitted, so is very minimal.
As well as porcelain veneers, we also offer composite veneer treatment. This is a relatively new form of treatment and is less invasive as no enamel is shaved from the tooth, however, they are not as durable as porcelain veneers, lasting around 4-8 years as opposed to 10-15.
Although some small, minor adjustments are made to your teeth in order to fit veneers, there are many dental improvements that come with having veneers fitted. Some patients choose to get veneers as the enamel on their teeth is damaged, so having veneers fitted replaces any lost or worn-down enamel. Veneers can also fix minor cosmetic problems and whiten your smile and, as veneers are mostly stain resistant, so you don’t need to worry about future discolouration or needing to have further whitening treatment.
Some patients do experience an increase in tooth sensitivity following veneer treatment, however, this is to be expected following some cosmetic treatments, such as teeth whitening and orthodontic treatments. For the first few days following having your veneers fitted, you might feel some sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures, but this usually goes away after a few days or it can be managed with the right dental products.
If you’re wondering how veneers damage your teeth, the perception often comes from the fact that dentists need to change the shape and structure of your natural teeth in order to place them properly. These changes are permanents and irreversible, as you can not restore the enamel which is removed before veneer placement. It’s important to remember that veneers will eventually need to be replaced as they last around 10 years on average.
Here at Dental Solutions, we understand that getting dental veneers is quite a big decision to make. Whilst veneers are an excellent way to hide discoloured or crooked teeth, it is important that you understand the pros and cons of getting veneers. Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation, where we can discuss our range of veneer treatments with you.
Composite bonding is one of our most popular treatments here at Dental Solutions. Using modern materials and techniques, composite bonding is a quick and affordable cosmetic procedure for fixing discoloured or chipped teeth and closing gaps in your smile. Composite bonding is different from traditional dental veneers, as the treatment can be applied to just a few teeth, or even a singular tooth, as opposed to a full set of veneers.
If you’re asking yourself “should I get composite bonding?” as a way of targeting some cosmetic dental concerns, then here are some benefits of composite bonding and how it can help you achieve the smile you have always wanted.
Composite bonding is a non-invasive treatment that requires very little time spent in our dentist chair. It is a pain-free treatment and no anaesthesia or drills are used and, compared to veneers, there are no permanent alterations made to your teeth. The resin used is quite resistant to chips and breaks and is unlikely to stain, however, it can be easily repaired in the future if needed.
Composite bonding is often used to help fix small and minor cosmetic dental problems, such as crooked teeth, gaps or stains. Following composite bonding treatment, you will have a much more aesthetically pleasing smile. Some patients use composite bonding to repair cracked or chipped teeth, whilst others choose the treatment for dental issues such as small gaps or for increasing the size of teeth if one or two are shorter than the others.
At Dental Solutions, we will make sure that the resin we use for composite bonding is a perfect colour match to your natural teeth so that there is no obvious difference. When we apply the resin, we will mould and smooth the putty-like material so that it is shaped exactly the way you want. This easy and straightforward procedure means that we can help you achieve amazing smile results in no time.
With treatment taking an hour on average and, with just one appointment needed, composite bonding treatment is shorter than any other of our cosmetic procedures. This means that you achieve instant results and can leave our clinic with a brand new smile. Composite bonding requires no special preparation and you can simply arrive for your appointment and relax whilst our dentists get to work!
If you have small cosmetic concerns in regards to your smile and teeth, then composite bonding is a quick and easy solution to help you achieve a new, confident smile. Composite bonding is the least invasive and time-consuming cosmetic procedure when it comes to aesthetically improving the appearance of your teeth. If you have healthy natural teeth already and simply require a quick solution to improve the appearance of your smile, then composite bonding is a painless and affordable option for many patients.
If you have any dental problems or are still asking yourself “should I get composite bonding?”, then contact us today and arrange a consultation!
Monday: 8.00am - 6.00pm
Tuesday: 8.00am - 8.00pm
Wednesday: 9.00am - 5.30pm
Thursday: 8.00am - 5.30pm
Friday: 9.00am - 4.00pm
Saturdays by appointment only.
Dental Solutions
9 Henry St,
Lymm,
Cheshire,
WA13 0LS
Phone
01925 756565
Email
[email protected]
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